Some riders are eligible for reduced fares. Military personnel and children under 11 ride for free.
No matter which type of reduced fare card you have, all reduced fare prices are the same.
Children age 11 and under ride the MBTA for free. Groups including 10 or more children (regardless of the number of chaperones), must register their travel using the field trip form.
People who are legally blindPeople who are legally blind, as well as an accompanying guide, ride the MBTA for free with a Blind Access CharlieCard. Service animals are always allowed on the MBTA.
Uniformed military personnelActive-duty military personnel ride the MBTA for free. If in plainclothes, please present a valid military ID to MBTA staff. If in uniform, no identification is necessary.
Police and firefightersMassachusetts State Police troopers and police officers and firefighters in towns within the MBTA’s service area ride for free when in full uniform and wearing an official badge. Plainclothes detectives ride for free if they present their official badge.
Government officialsCommonwealth Department of Public Utilities employees, anyone accompanying them, and state elevator inspectors ride the MBTA for free when they present a Public Official ID.
You can now apply online for a reduced fare card. Find your pass type below to start the application process.
People with disabilities and Medicare cardholders
If you’re a person with a disability or a Medicare cardholder, you may be eligible for reduced fares with a Transportation Access Pass (TAP).
People 65 and older
If you are 65 or older, you are eligible for reduced fares with a Senior CharlieCard.
Some middle and high school students
If you attend one of the schools enrolled in the MBTA’s Student Pass Program, you are eligible for an S-Card or M7 Card.
People 18 – 25 with low income
If you are a young adult with low income and live in a participating city or town, you may be eligible for a Youth Pass CharlieCard.
Note: The Youth Pass program will be retired and replaced by the new income-eligible reduced fares program on October 31, 2024.
People 18 – 64 enrolled in state assistance
If you're between the ages of 18 – 64 and are enrolled in an approved state assistance program, you may qualify for income-eligible reduced fares.
If you’re between the ages of 18 – 64 and are enrolled in a state assistance program, you may be income-eligible for reduced fares.
The Mobility Center, located in Boston at 1000 Massachusetts Ave, can help you plan trips, apply for reduced fare passes, sign up for The RIDE, and more.
If you're enrolled in the senior or income-eligible reduced fare program, you can receive discounts on ADA/standard and Premium trips with the RIDE.
You can use your EBT card to load value or passes onto CharlieCards and CharlieTickets.
Riders enrolled in reduced fare programs can link their benefits to their contactless payment method for reduced one-way fares on bus and subway.
with reduced fare card
Subway One-Waywith reduced fare card
with reduced fare card
Local Bus One-Waywith reduced fare card
with reduced fare card
Express Bus One-Waywith reduced fare card
commuter railwith CharlieTicket or mTicket App
commuter rail Commuter Rail One-Waywith CharlieTicket or mTicket App
with mTicket App or paper ferry ticket
Ferry One-Waywith mTicket App or paper ferry ticket
With senior or income-eligible reduced fare card
ADA Ride One-WayWith senior or income-eligible reduced fare card
With senior or income-eligible reduced fare card
Premium Ride One-WayWith senior or income-eligible reduced fare card
Note: RIDE customers enrolled in the senior or income-eligible reduced fare programs can receive discounts on ADA/standard and Premium trips.
For Local Bus, Express Bus, Silver Line, and/or Subway, transfer up to two times and pay only the cost of the highest-priced service.
Certain monthly Commuter Rail passes printed on a CharlieTicket include unlimited transfers to any mode. Single-ride Commuter Rail and ferry tickets generally do not include free transfers.
Note: Transfers are not available with store value CharlieTickets or cash payments. Transfer rules still apply to travel with contactless payment.
Reduced subway and bus passes can be purchased on either a CharlieCard or a CharlieTicket.
Reduced Monthly LinkPass
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
CharlieTicket also valid on:
Reduced 7-Day LinkPass
Unlimited travel for seven days.
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
Commuter Rail Zone 1A Pass on CharlieTicket also valid on:
Reduced Monthly Express Bus Pass
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
CharlieCard and CharlieTicket valid on:
CharlieTicket also valid on:
Reduced Commuter Rail passes can be purchased on either a CharlieTicket or through the mTicket app.
Reduced Monthly Commuter Rail Pass
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on:
Reduced Monthly Commuter Rail Pass, mTicket
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month
Commuter Rail, up to designated pass zone
No transfers to other modes
Reduced Monthly Hingham/Hull Ferry Pass
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on:
Reduced Monthly Hingham/Hull Ferry Pass, mTicket
Unlimited travel for the remainder of the month on all MBTA ferry routes.
